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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR – AMERICAN SAMOA
PRESS RELEASE
(for immediate release – Saturday, January 2, 2010)
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Gov. Togiola: “Greatest exhibition of heart, spirit and sportsmanship”;
American Samoa 49, Australia 6
Pictures
(UTULEI) – Governor Togiola Tulafono today congratulated Australia and American Samoa for making history by playing in the first ever international American football competition on Samoan soil. Final score: American Samoa 49, Australia 6.
OPENING CEREMONY REMARKS
In the opening ceremony of the second day of Samoa Bowl VII, Governor Togiola welcomed Head Coach Peter Tos, the coaching staff and the national under 19 team of Gridiron Australia and their Junior Outback Touring Squad to Samoa Bowl VII.
“I wish to congratulate and say thanks to our team from the great nation of Australia for their participation. This Samoa Bowl is truly island life; after all we are all islands. Some are big, some are small, but we are all islands in the Pacific Ocean,” said Governor Togiola. “Today is about the players; it’s about the game; it’s about sportsmanship. This is a special day for you, the players and the coaches, as well as our countries. We are bringing you together to play this game of football and exhibit your talents and your sportsmanship.”
Governor Togiola expressed his delight on history being made in American Samoa.
“It’s a pleasure to begin this international competition under the auspices of the International Federation of American Football – the IFAF. It’s not new. It’s been around since 1998 and Australia is one of the ten founding nations,” said Governor Togiola. “American football is played in many countries of the world and they have been having international competitions for more than a decade. Our U.S. family only joined IFAF in 2007 with a national team.”
Governor Togiola announced that two American Samoans -- David Katina of Kanana Fou High School, who played football at Fa’asao Marist High School, the son of Mr. David and Mrs. Debbie Katina, and Beck Coulter of Leone High School, son of Mr. Bob and Mrs. Lima Coulter – have been selected to the USA national team that will be playing this year.
Governor Togiola said American Samoa will seek membership in the IFAF.
“We are happy to apply as a member of the IFAF and the Oceania Federation of American Football and hopefully we would be joining Australia in the Pacific family,” said Governor Togiola. “I truly hope that this is the beginning of something greater yet to come.”
Governor Togiola commended the Australia national under 19 team for making it to Samoa Bowl this year and helping the Territory celebrate the seventh annual event.
“We look forward to hearing whether we would be having the same competition next year or international competition throughout the year,” said Governor Togiola.
Governor Togiola also offered words of encouragement and thanks to the American Samoa team, and to Head Coach Pepine Lauvao and his coaching staff.
END OF GAME REMARKS
At the end of the game, Governor Togiola expressed his sincere thanks to Australia and American Samoa for their participation in the first international American football competition ever played in the Territory.
“On behalf of all the people in the stadium and all the people watching on TV, all of American Samoa, and all who are keeping track of these games on the internet, and other forms of communications, I stand here to congratulate all of you young people for the greatest and finest exhibition of heart, spirit and sportsmanship,” said Governor Togiola. “I can’t say enough to tell you how much we appreciate the fact that Australia has come all this way to help us celebrate Samoa Bowl VII. I can only say this that through the years we will be working on having more international matches in the future. If it’s any consolation, I did not sleep well last night, as I thought back almost nine years ago waiting for news to come out of Australia and then the news finally came that our soccer team got beat 31-nothing. I’m sorry but today is a little bit of a reprieve for us.”
Governor Togiola expressed his gratitude to all coaching staff and Head Coach Peter Tos, Head Coach Livai Siuaki and Head Coach Pepine Lauvao.
“Coaches, thank you for your commitment and dedication for all of our young people. You are the holders of the future of these young people. What you do, what you teach, and what you expound on their future and their lives,” said Governor Togiola.
Governor Togiola told the American Samoa team that the Department of Education, all of the parents of American Samoa are proud of their performance.
Governor Togiola also said thank you to the officiating crew for Samoa Bowl and their courageous contribution to the game.
“We thank the officials. You have a very daunting job and you probably have heard a few names expressed towards you all in the last two days, but you continue to come back and accept the challenge to officiate these games because you are all doing it for our young people,” said Governor Togiola. “I want to also thank all the sponsors, for without them, the Samoa Bowl committees of American Samoa and Hawaii could not have not have put on this event every year.”
Governor Togiola also said thank you and congratulations for the support of the island community in coming out during the holiday weekend to cheer on the young people and the fantastic job they have done.
In saying thank you and congratulations to Australia, Hawaii and American Samoa, Governor Togiola offered best wishes as they return to their respective homes, and to their families and expressed his thanks for making Samoa Bowl VII a very successful event.
“Thank you for joining us this year. I wish you all safe travel home, Godspeed and we look forward to Samoa Bowl VIII next year. Fa’afetai. Soifua.” said Governor Togiola.
AWARDS CEREMONY
Samoa Bowl VII - American Samoa 23 vs Hawaii 20
Champion: American Samoa
Most Valuable Player of the Game: Bobby Steffany (AS)
Offensive Player of the Game: Jeremy Higgins (HI)
Defensive Player of the Game: Hemasi Latu (AS)
Samoa Bowl VII - American Samoa 49 vs Australia 6
Champion: American Samoa
Most Valuable Player of the Game: Lawrence Danielson (AS)
Offensive Player of the Game: Viavia Manuma (AS)
Defensive Player of the Game: Hugh Tompkins (AUS)
Samoa Bowl VII / Girls Volleyball - American Samoa vs Hawaii
Champion: Hawaii
Most Valuable Player of the Game: Gabby Matautia (HI)
Offensive Player of the Game: Angela Sooalo (HI)
Defensive Player of the Game: Sola Williams (HI)
Full Text
GOVERNOR TOGIOLA TULAFONO’S REMARKS
Opening Ceremony
January 2, 2010
Australia vs American Samoa
Veterans Memorial Stadium
Tafuna, American Samoa
Talofa. It is an honor and a privilege to welcome Head Coach Peter Tos, the coaching staff and the national under 19 selected team of Gridiron Australia and their Junior Outback Touring Squad to Samoa Bowl VII.
I wish to congratulate and say thanks to our team from the great nation of Australia for their participation. This Samoa Bowl is truly island life; after all we are all islands. Some are big, some are small, but we are all islands in the Pacific Ocean.
It’s a pleasure to begin this international competition under the auspices of the International Federation of American Football – the IFAF. It’s not new. It’s been around since 1998 and Australia is one of the ten founding nations. American football is played in many countries of the world and they have been having international competitions for more than a decade. Our U.S. family only joined IFAF in 2007 with a national team.
This year we have two American Samoans -- David Katina --a senior at Kanana Fou High School, who played football at Fa’asao Marist High School-- son of Mr. David and Mrs. Debbie Katina, and Beck Coulter of Leone High School, son of Mr. Bob and Mrs. Lima Coulter – who have been selected to the US national team that will be playing this year. At the same time we are also applying for our own standing in the IFAF and the Oceania Federation of American Football and hopefully we would be joining Australia in the Pacific family. I truly hope that this is the beginning of something greater that will achieve in a few years. And today, I want to commend the Australia national under 19 team for making it to Samoa Bowl this year and helping us celebrate this event. And we look to learning whether we would be having the same competition next year or international competition throughout the year.
So, this is the beginning of something and we are making history here today. I want to acknowledge again this great work of the committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Peter Gurr and each and everyone of you who has put in their time, your resources to make it possible.
I also want to say special thanks to the June Jones Foundation and Medical Mission because they were the ones that brought to us the IFAF and introduced us to this and helping us bring Australia team to American Samoa for this first ever international competition in American football on Samoan soil.
So, today it’s about the players; it’s about the game; it’s about sportsmanship, so let’s get onto the game and we look forward to a wonderful competition.
I want to acknowledge and thank the American Youth Football Samoa and their association for two days of wonderful competition and excellent exhibition by these young people. Let’s acknowledge them with a wonderful round of applause and what they have done.
It’s been most impressive to watch these four teams compete in the past two days and we look forward to more competition of the AYF in the near future and throughout this year.
So, young men, this is a special day for you as well as our countries. We are bringing you together to play this game of football and exhibit your talents and your sportsmanship and we look forward to a wonderful game. Manuia.
END OF GAME REMARKS
On behalf of all the people in the stadium and all the people watching on TV and all of American Samoa an all who are keeping track of these games on the internet, and other forms of communications, I stand here to congratulate all of you young people for the greatest and finest exhibition of heart, spirit and sportsmanship.
I can’t say enough to tell you how much we appreciate the fact that Australia has come all this way to help us celebrate Samoa Bowl VII. I can only say this that through the years we will be working on having more international matches in the future. If it’s any consolation, I did not sleep well last night, as I thought back almost nine years ago waiting for news to come out of Australia and the news finally came that our soccer team got beat 31-nothing. I’m sorry but today is a little bit of a reprieve for us.
I want to thank all the Samoan boys and all of you for the finest game that we have witnessed.
Congratulations to all and when you –Australia and Hawaii—return to your respective homes, to your families, we wish you all the best, safe travels home and Godspeed. Looking forward to Samoa Bowl VIII next year. Thank you for joining us this year.
I want to thank all the coaching staff and Head Coach Peter Tos, Head Coach Livai Siuaki and Head Coach Pepine Lauvao.
The Department of Education, all the parents of American Samoa are proud of your performance.
Coaches, you are the holders of the future of these young people. What you do, what you teach, and what you expound to these future and their lives as they go forward.
So, we thank you and say fa’afetai.
We thank the official. You have a very daunting job and you probably have been expressed a few names the last two days, but you continue to come back and do this for us and our young people. Accepting the challenge to do it for these young people. I want to thank all the sponsors for without them, the committees of American Samoa and Hawaii could not have not done this event every year.
Congratulations, again, with all our thanks for your support.
Thank you to our island community for coming out during this holiday weekend to cheer on these young people and the fantastic job they’ve done. Fa’afetai. Soifua.
---americansamoa.gov---
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